Lind: Four-generation fun

Friday was a big day for Char Feldman, Fargo.

It was her 58th birthday. So to celebrate, she had family members over to her home.

Most everybody does that. But what sets this apart is who was there: two branches of the family each representing four generations.

Having family members representing four generations is not unusual. But with two sides of her family with four generations present - well, that's not your usual birthday party.

Here's the generational roll call:

The first set:

• Helen Volk, who splits her time between family members in Fargo and Devils Lake, N.D.
• Her daughter Bernadine Jundt, Fargo.
• Bernadine’s daughter Char.
• Amanda, daughter of Char.

The second set:

• Helen.
• Bernadine.
• Bernadine’s other daughter Marilyn Hughes, Moorhead.
• Marilyn’s daughter Lesley.

Going strong

Char, who is Helen's oldest grandchild, writes that if you ask her grandma how she is, her stock answer is, "Up and around."

She is that and more. She sings. She plays cards. And she is the reigning queen of the four generations; she is 98.

Both of Helen's parents and the parents of her late husband Peter were Germans from Russia, having immigrated to the United States from the Odessa region of Russia.

Helen spent most of her life in Rugby, N.D., and she played a key role in Char's life from the start.

Char's father, Edward Jundt, was in the Army and stationed on Okinawa when Char was born, so Char's mother, Bernadine, was living with Bernadine's parents when Char came into the world.

Ed, by the way, is 79 and retired but still works for Kmart in Fargo. "We keep waiting for him to retire again," Char says.

These days, Helen loves to sing, with Char accompanying her on the piano.

When the family gathers to play cards, in which the stakes aren't high -"We usually play for nickels and so forth," Char says - Helen sits next to Char and serves as her "banker," holding the money purse.

Char says, "It is great fun, and we have wonderful banter back and forth."

So now the family looks ahead to getting together again with the two sets of four generations still intact and still reigned over by Queen Helen.

If you have an item of interest for this column, mail it to Neighbors, The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo, ND 58107; fax it to 241-5487; or e-mail blind@forumcomm.com